Tangle (BWWM)

Chapter 23- The Happiest of Birthdays

His eyes relentlessly scanned over her as she sat down on his bed with her legs crossed, desperately fumbling with her shoe buckle, trying to secure the strap around her ankle. The high-heeled sandal with a chunky four inch heel, a slight platform in front and that damned ankle strap that taunted his love so, adorned her feet gracefully. Without a second thought, after buttoning the sleeve buttons of his perfectly pressed long-sleeved black shirt, Vincent shifted the legs of his trousers and kneeled down in front of Gabrielle.

Surprised by the sudden action, she froze in her movements. Her eyes were plastered onto him when he gently lifted her delicate foot and adoringly secured the accursed strap for her. While he was there, Vincent grasped the other foot and repeated the intimate action for the other shoe. Before he stood back to his full height, he ran his hands lightly over her freshly shaved, cocoa butter moisturized, smooth leg, connecting gazes with hers before pressing a kiss onto her calf.

This was paradise. Life was perfect. Their love was perfect.

Never had he imagined physically bonding with his foretold mate would come after such a delayed period of time. Never had he imagined having to fight tooth and nail to earn said foretold's trust. Vincent had had everything planned perfectly in his head for when he had found her. But life was funny in that way sometimes...

Yet, finally, here they were, post love-making session number three, settled in a comfortable silence as they prepared to head out to Vincent's birthday party.

Standing up, Vincent leaned in and planted a seductive kiss on her lips. Easily, she melted into him, reciprocating with the same fervor. Slowly, he kissed his way from there to her ear, down her throat, and settled into the crook of her neck. A gasp broke out from her mouth as her body fully awoke, but she pushed at his chest when he drew lazy circles on her skin with his tongue.

"Baby..." she called. "We have to go or we'll be late for our reservation. Plus I'm super sore after that third go round." Vincent straightened up and looked down at her with a wicked grin. That third round had been pretty wild. There was a splintered dent in the bathroom door and a crack in the mirror where Vincent had delivered an impassioned punch to prove it.

"And that was me going easy on you. Your fragile human body cannot withstand the full extent of my vampiric strength." He gave a light snicker when Gabrielle grimaced at the thought. "Don't worry, love. I'll be gentle always."

Gabrielle chuckled and stood up, letting the skirt of her dress fall gracefully in its designed shape. She'd worn an all black dress, the bodice conforming to her curved silhouette with cutouts on each side on the waistline, displaying some of the delectable flesh he'd nipped on just moments ago. The skirt reaching down around her ankles, flaring out at her hips, and allowing her left leg to peek out due to the large side split. Completing the look, she accessorized with some silver dangling earrings, and a silver necklace with a brilliant diamond pendant that Vincent randomly gifted her one day.

She'd opted to wear the outfit when Vincent decided he was in an all black mood for his birthday dinner, and put on a black suit and tie. Shrugging his jacket over his shoulders, Vincent licked his lips when he saw her in the outfit's full splendor.

Did they really have to go to dinner...?

Gabrielle sighed. "I know these shoes are gonna kill me by the end of the night," she muttered before heading to the closet to get her trusty pair of flip-flops, the very same pair she had taken with the her the night they'd met. "All right. Come on, we have to be on time."

——

When they pulled up to the valet parking service, Vincent looked out the passenger window and laughed. "The Lupina! This is Craigh's restaurant, you know."